Ranking the 10 best defensive linemen in NY Giants history

NY Giants Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)
NY Giants Justin Tuck, Osi Umenyiora, Michael Strahan(Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 10
Next
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 13: Defensive lineman Keith Hamilton #75 of the New York Giants pursues the play against the Arizona Cardinals during a game at Giants Stadium on November 13, 1994 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Cardinals defeated the Giants 10-9. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 13: Defensive lineman Keith Hamilton #75 of the New York Giants pursues the play against the Arizona Cardinals during a game at Giants Stadium on November 13, 1994 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The Cardinals defeated the Giants 10-9. (Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images) /

9. Keith Hamilton

Accolades: Second Team All Pro honor

One of the more underrated defensive linemen in NY Giants history is Keith Hamilton, who posted 63 sacks, 545 tackles and right forced fumbles in his career. He spent his entire 12-year career with the Giants, racking up the eighth-most sacks in Giants history, while also helping the team make a Super Bowl appearance in 2000.

After a slow rookie year in which he only tallied 21 tackles and 3.5 sacks, Hamilton would break out his sophomore season in 1993. That year, he posted 11.5 sacks, 51 tackles and two forced fumbles for the Giants.

Hamilton would remain a very solid piece of a contending NY Giants team for years. Arguably his best season came in 2000, with him posting 10 sacks, 57 tackles (11 for loss), which earned him Second-Team All Pro honors.

While he is no Hall of Famer or even necessarily an elite player, Hamilton was a vital piece in the NY Giants Super Bowl run in 2000 and was one of the better members of the NY Giants defense for nearly 12 seasons.